Heat exchange apparatus for heating or cooling fluids



jDec. 2o, 1932. J G, MCKEAN ET AL 1,891,434

HEAT rEXQHANGE APPARATUS F011 HEATING -0R COOLING FLUIDs Filed Deu. 14. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l A8 1: 5 E E F1115 A l Y o O Q Dec. 20, 1932. J. G. MCKEAN ET AL HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS FOR HEATING OR COOLING FLUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed nec. a4.

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@Wirf Patented Dec. 2o, 1932 1,891,434

UNITED fgs'rfAr Es PATENT o1-FICE V.ToHNxGfRAvns'MCKEAN, or MouN'r VERNON, ANDROBERT FREDERICK JONES, 0E

. GLASGOW, .SCOTLAND VHEAT. EXCHANGE APPARATUS FOR HEATING OR COOLING FLUIDS Application led December 14, 1931, Serial No.V $80,974:, and in vGreat Britain June'23, 1931.

This invention has reference to'improve-l tion, partlyinsectionand Fig. 13 is a plan 'mentsin -heat `exchange apparatus for heatview, also partly in section, illustrating a ring. or cooling fluids and hasfor an obj ect: the further embodiment vor modification. Figs.

- rovision of aheat exchanger for fluids (liq- 14fand15 arefragmentary sectional elevauid and/or gaseous) in which'two fluids flow tions ofmodied constructions ofthe grooved 55 in relatively thin, flat, parallel streams, either plate and Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation illus- Ain the-same or in opposite directions,` and are'V trating a modified formationof the grooves sepa-rated by thin flat walls. in the groovedplate lo -Al heat exchanger,- according to the inven-l According to one embodiment. ofthe invtion, comprises two sets of relatively deep, vention, illustrated byk Figs. 1 to 5 which is 60 narrowand long channels or shallow, broad adapted, particularly for use as an oil heater,

- and'longchannels, arranged with the chana plurality of relatively deep and narrow nelsof the oneset alternating with the changrooves 1, 2 are formed in each surface of a nels fof the other set. An inlet is provided metal plate 3, which, desirably, is arranged at 'one endofseach set of channels and an out-V with the.l groovesvertical. The grooves 1 cut 6 let` is provided at the other end of .each set v2in one surface yof the plate 3 alternate with of channels so that the Ifluids flow longitudithe grooves 2 cut in theother surface and the v nallythrough the channels Y in kthin fiatwalls 4. Whichseparate the grooves 1 and 2 l=streams. The'inlets tothe sets of channels are-relatively-thin. The grooved plate 3 is maybe at the same end ofthe exchange ap# `sandwiched between two outer plates 5 and 6 70 paratus so that the fluids flow in parallel which may be covered withheat retaining streams in the same direction or alternatively material 7 therthree plates 5, 3 and 6 being n`the-inlets to' the sets of channels may be at secured. together by bolts. The .grooves 1 opposite ends of the apparatus Vso that the and 2, preferably, do not extend'to the top fluids iowin parallel streams in opposite diand bottom edges of the `plate 3v andv arel 75 `rections. f covered by the outer plates 5 and 6. At the The channels maybe formed by cutting in i upper end ofthey plate 6 a .steaminlet 8 is f opposite faces or surfaces `of a metal plate a provided and-at the lower end of said plate 6 plurality of grooves, the'one set of channelsa steam or drain outlet 9 is provided. -At

'being' formed in one surface of the plate and the lower end 'of the plate 5 an oil inlet 1080 -"the'other set of channels `being formed inthe is provided and aty the upper end of said opposite surfaceof the plate so that the chan-V `other outer plate 5 yan oil outlet 11 is pronelson opposite surfaces alternatev with each vided. Steam flows in'thin parallel streams othen longitudinallyV down thel grooves 2 in the 8 i 35 -`In theV accompanying drawings Fig. lis a plate 3 and oil flows in thin parallel streams 45 trate a modified construction. \Fig. 9 is ai.throughtheapparatus in one'or more passes.

vsectional elevation `and Fig. 2 is an elevation longitudinally up the grooves 1 in the plate 3, at right angles thereto illustrating one emthe steam streams alternating with the oil bodiment of heat exchange apparatus in acstreams and, desirably, the outer streams A'cordancev with this invention.` Fig. 3 is ai4 being steam streams. face view or elevation, Fig tis a sectional According to a modified construction them elevation at right angles thereto and Fig. 5 grooves, instead of vbeing covered by outer is a sectional plan view of the grooved plate plates may be covered byfilling pieces/welded f illustrated by Figs. 1 and2. Figs. 6, 7 and or otherwise fitted into the grooves.

8 are views similar to Figs. 3,4 and 5but illus- The fluids or yone of Vthe fluids may fiow 95 face view or elevation and Figs. 10 and 11 are As illustrated by Figs. 6 to 11 the grooves 2 v sectional elevations' taken, respectively, on may be covered, `for-the major portion of @the lines 10Q-10 and 11-11 of Fig. 9 ofthe their length, by filling pieces 12 welded or outer plate fonuse in the modification illus-1 lotherwise fitted into thegrooves. A block I 59 trated by Figs. 6 to 8. 1 Figw12 is an eleva-..13dividedfintoltwo compartmentslll and 15 100 by a partition 16 may be welded or otherwise secured to the plate 3 so as to cover the one ends of the grooves 2 and another block 17 having a chamber 18 may be welded or otherwise secured to the plate 3 so as to cover the other ends of the grooves 2. The compartment 14 is provided with a steam inlet connection'19 and is open to the one half of the grooves 2 and the compartment 15 is provided with a steam outlet 20 and is open to the other half of the grooves 2. The chamber 18 is open to all the grooves.

In this arrangement the steam or other fluid enters the compartment 14 through the inlet connection 19, flows through one half of the grooves 2 to the chamber 18, then flows from said chamber 18 through the other half of the grooves 2 to the compartment 15 and is discharged through the outlet connection 20, the steam or other fluid flowing through the apparatus in two passes.

The oil or other fluid mayflow through the grooves 1 in the plate 3 in several passes. As illustrated (Fig. 9) the plate 5 at one end is formed with a plurality of pockets 21 and 22 and at'the other end with a plurality of pockets 23 and 24.

In the construction illustrated the pocket i 21 extends over the ends of three grooves 1 so that oil flows from the inlet connection 10 through the first three grooves 1 in parallel to the pocket 23 which extends over fourf A grooves.

The oil then flows through the other grooves 1 in series, the pockets 22 and 24 each extending over two grooves 1, tothe outlet connection 11.

According to the modification 'illustrated by Figs. 12 and 13, which isparticularly suitable for use as an oil cooler, two plates 3,*V

each provided with alternating grooves as I shown by Figs. 5 and 8, are arranged spaced apart with a casting 25 sandwiched therebetween. The centre portion of the casting 25 covers the major portion of the grooves 1, the ends of the grooves opening into chambers 26 and 27 formed at each end of the casting 25. The chamber 26 is provided with an inlet connection 28 and the chamber 27 is provided with an outlet connection 29. The ends of the casting 25 are similarly constructed.

Water or other cooling (or heating) medi` um enters chamber 26 through the connection 28 and flows through the grooves 1 to the chamber 27 where it is discharged through the connection 29.

On the outer sides of the plates 3 castings 30 and' 31 are arranged, the castings 30, 31, plates 3 and casting 25 being bolted together. The centre portions of the castings 30 and 31 cover the major portions of the grooves 2 in the plates 3. At one nend the casting 30 is provided with a chamber 32 open to the ends of all the grooves 2 of the adjacent plate 3 and the other end of the casting 30 is provided with two compartments 33 and 34 tion of the grooves.

vided with a discharge outlet 38 and theupper compartment, corresponding to the compartment 34 being provided with an inlet branch 39 which is connected to the outlet connection 37 by a pipe 40 Which bridges the apparatus and is indicated by dotted lines (Fig. 13). v

Oil enters the compartment 33 through the inlet connection 36, flows through the lower grooves 2 of the adjacent plate 3 to the chamber 32 and from said chamber flows through the upper grooves 2 of said plate 3 to the compartment 34. From vsaid compartment 34 the oil flows by way of the outlet connection 37, pipe 40 and inlet branch 39 to the upper compartment of casting 31 corresponding to compartment 34 of casting 30, then through the upper grooves 2 of plate 3 associated with casting 31 to the end chamber or casting 31, then through the lower grooves 2 to the lower compartment of casting 31 and is discharged through discharge outlet 38.

In cases where the depth of the grooves 1, 2',

so that an uncut portion 42, constitutinga."`

stiffener, may be left in the intermediate por- This uncut portion may be perforated as indicated by dotted lines 43 to provide a passage for the fluidfrom one yportion of the groove to the other and th'e grooves may be closed by lilling piecesy 12 welded or otherwise secured therein.'

If desired retarders, which may be'ser-rated, may be fitted in one or in both sets of` grooves. These retarders may actas stiften'- ers for the walls of the grooves and` the grooves may be of different dimensions.

According to the modification illustrated y Fig. 16 the grooves 1 and 2 may be formed somewhat of side of the plate 3 may be filled in with filling pieces 12 which extend for the major portion of the grooves intermediate the ends thereof.

What we claim is 1. YA heat exchange yapparatus for heating or cooling fluids comprising two sets of straightchannels cut in op-posite faces or sur- Yfaces of a metal plate with the ends of the channels'spaced from the ends of the plate' V-shape and the grooves on onel so that the channels of one set alternate with the channels of the other set and means whereby a fluid is caused to flow through each set of channels in one or more passes.

2. A heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the platehaving the grooves cut in opposite faces is sandwiched between plate members or castings each of which is provided at one end with an inlet chamber and at the other end with an outlet chamber.

3. Aheat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the plate having the grooves cut in opposite faces in sandwiched between plate members or castings having at the end thereof chambers which extend over the ends of all the grooves in the adjacent face of the plate whereby the fluids low through the grooves in one pass.

4. A heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the plate having the grooves cut in opposite faces is sandwiched between plate members or castings having at the ends thereof one or more chambers divided into compartments by division walls whereby one or both fluids may flow through the grooves in a plurality of passes.

5. A heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the grooves of a set of grooves are closed intermediate their ends by filling strips and the ends of the grooves are left open.

6. A heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the ends of the grooves are open to pockets formed in an outer platel placed against the grooved face of the grooved plate whereby one of the fluids may flow through some of the grooves in parallel and the remainder of the grooves in series.

7 A heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which two plates grooved in opposite faces are spaced apart with a casting sandwiched therebetween and provided with inlet and outlet chambers whereby a fluid may flow from said inlet chamber through the grooves in adjacent faces of the grooved plates to the outlet chamber.

8. A heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which two plates grooved in opposite faces are spaced apart with a casting sandwiched therebetween and in which there is associated with each grooved plate an outer plate having end chambers whereby'a fluid may flow in one or more passes through the outer grooves of one grooved plate andthen through the outer grooves of the other grooved plate in one or more passes.

9. A heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a pair of pla-tes spaced apart and each grooved in two opposite faces thereof, a casting interposed between said plates, a plate member provided with end chambers and located on the outer side of each grooved plate, and a pipe which bridges the apparatus and is adapted to conduct a to a chamber of the other outer plate.

10. A heat exchange apparatus as claimed Y in claim 1 in which the ends of thev channels are open to chambers located adjacent said 'I ends whereby a fluid is caused to flow longitudinally through each set of channels in one or more passes.

In testimony whereof we have signed our naines to this specification.

JOHN GRAVES MCKEAN. ROBERT FREDERICK JONES. 

